[2] With regard to no mercy being at hand and to there being no joining to truths in the natural Unless the truth represented by 'Benjamin' was made subject to the internal good represented by 'Joseph', the situation is this: The truth which enables a person to be a Church is that truth which springs from good; for when a person is governed by good, it is from good that he sees truths, perceives them, and so believes that they are indeed truths, which no one can possibly do unless he is governed by good. That good is like a little flame which sheds light and provides illumination, and so enables a person to see, perceive, and believe truths. For an affection for truth springing from good directs the internal sight towards those truths and away from matters of a worldly and bodily nature which envelop them in darkness. This is the kind of truth that 'Benjamin' represents here - the one and only truth the Church possesses, see 5806, which is to say the one and only truth that enables a person to be a Church. But this truth must be entirely subject to the internal good represented by 'Joseph'; for the Lord flows in by way of internal good and imparts life to the truths below, thus also to this truth that springs from spiritual good from the natural, represented by 'Israel', 4286, 4598.

[3] From all this it is also evident that it is by means of this truth that the joining together with the truths below it is effected. For if this truth did not exist subject to internal good, enabling it to receive an influx of good into itself, mercy which flows in constantly from the Lord by way of internal good would not be received since no intermediary would be present. And if that mercy were not received, neither would there be any joining together. These are the considerations meant by 'if your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again'.